Shirrel Ann Dowd

Shirrel Ann Dowd, 76, of Mt. Pleasant, died Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at Taylor Hospice House in Des Moines.

A memorial service is set for 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel in Mt. Pleasant, with the Rev. Jeff McPheron officiating. Inurnment will be in Forest Home Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 2-7 p.m. Friday at Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. A memorial has been established to Taylor Hospice House where Mrs. Dowd received her care. On-line condolences can be left at www.olsonpowell.com.

Mrs. Dowd was born Oct. 20, 1937, in rural Birmingham, the daughter of Clem and Ina Dille Hootman. She married Richard Lee Dowd Sept. 8, 1956. He died Aug. 22, 1999.

Mrs. Dowd graduated from Birmingham High School.

She worked at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Middletown. She was a production worker at Heatilator in Mt. Pleasant for 30 years.

Always a farm girl at heart, Mrs. Dowd loved horses, especially Tennessee walkers. She watched the Kentucky Derby and other horse races. She loved spending time with her grandchildren. Watching NASCAR was a favorite activity. An avid Hawkeye fan, she enjoyed watching football and basketball games. Other hobbies included mushroom hunting, jigsaw puzzles, playing computer games, and reading.

Survivors include: one son, Joe Dowd and wife Cindy of Ankeny; two daughters, Cindy Myers and husband Bill of New London and April Wagler and husband Rob of Mt. Union; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Eileen Losey of Mt. Pleasant, Elna Greenfield of Birmingham and Eva Johnson of Fairfield.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; seven brothers, Harold, Donovan “Dode,” Rex, Dean, Keith, Ray and Verle Lee Hootman; and one sister, Liz “Reva” Dossett.